A Life Sublime (28 page)

“Of course,” Helen breathed, reacting to the biblical reference. “Congratulations sister. I will pray for you.”

“And we will pray for
you
,” Nick replied with a rather sinister lift to his lips. Belinda waited until Helen had made her way to take a seat on the pews before laying into all of them.

“Why do you want to humiliate me?” she demanded. “I was going to ignore her!”

“Why?” Paul asked. “She’s seen all of us.”

Sofia straightened the collar of Belinda’s blouse. “She’s probably praying that she’ll get a family as pretty as us. We are a very attractive bunch of people.”

“Oh thank you, sweet baby Jesus the service is starting. Church is long!” Gina breathed in relief.

“Word,” Nick agreed.

They had no idea how long it would be. Belinda didn’t want to consider how it had been done, but Father Woodford read the bans of marriage for herself and Massimo. When he called out Belinda Mary Afriyie, widow of this parish, there was an audible gasp before everyone swished around to stare at her. Father Woodford cleared his throat to refer to Massimo Alvise Da Canaveze, widower of the parish of Kensington, who gave a broad grin and the children gave a restrained round of applause before falling into laughter.

Nick leaned over to Belinda who was trying to disappear into the pew. “You realise I don’t have a car, a TV or the right to ever win a game of rock, paper, scissors because I thought you’d take your time?”

“It’s your father’s fault. Get him to buy you a new car and TV. You’ll have to sort out your game on your own.”

“I’ll see what I can do. Yo Pads,” he whispered loudly to his father. “You owe me a car and a new TV.”

“Cheating and in church as well,” Gina shook her head. “How do you live with yourself?”

“You live with me!”

“Out of Christian duty.”

Sofia really started to giggle, “Nothing anatomical?”

“I’m taking the example of purity from my aunt,” Gina replied primly.

“She’s marrying my father, purity’s gone right out the window,” Paul snorted, flicking through the prayer book.

Belinda found her temper. “I mean it. If you all don’t behave, I will make you go and sit in your cars.”

They all gave her agreeable smiles and dutifully turned to face Father Woodford. Massimo curled his hand around her own. “It is going well, yes?”

Finally, the service ended and then members of the congregation fell on Belinda with congratulations, if strained and very surprised. Massimo happily took her left hand to show off the ring, proudly displaying his claim on his woman.

“We were just used to Belinda coming alone. We had no idea.”

“Christ, Auntie,” Sofia swore. “I don’t know how you put up with this.”

“Stop it,” Belinda raged. “You are all giving me a headache.”

“I apologise,” Massimo said to the church member, who narrowly escaped with his head attached to his body, after Belinda verbally savaged him. “My children’s eagerness to have Belinda as an official member of our family has exhausted her.”

“I’m not tired,” she argued. “I’m cross.”

“Same difference,” Gina yawned. “I need to eat. Bullet 2 and I are hungry.”

“Yeah, I’m tired of church,” Paul echoed, his sister-in-law’s yawn infectious.

“Plus we can get me and Auntie a glass of wine or four. Calm her down a bit.”

“Stop talking about me like I’m a television programme,” Belinda fumed. Massimo simply picked her up and walked to the doors of the church.

He stopped briefly to shake Father Woodford’s hand who said distractedly, “I’m happy that you both found the right path.”

“I didn’t have to make a choice,” Belinda disagreed, from within the circle of Massimo’s arms, high enough to see the bald spot on Father Woodford’s head.

“Good day, Father,” Massimo nodded to him before leading his family out to the car park. He placed Belinda gently inside his car before looking at his ‘children’ looking wide-eyed and innocent. “I could love you all more, but I have no idea how.”

Sofia and Gina sighed, each taking money out of their purse and handing it to their respective spouses.

“Told you he’d get emotional,” Nick asserted, lifting his note to the light and squinting. Gina kicked him much to his amusement. “Are we eating?”

“I feel like we’re getting boring,” Sofia made a moue with her mouth. “All we do is have sex and eat.”

Gina frowned. “I don’t have sex with you.”

“Somewhere in London, Tony’s head just exploded,” Nick chuckled. “Come on, let’s go.”

“You all go ahead. Belinda and I need to make a stop first. We will meet you at the restaurant.”

Belinda sighed, rolling the window down to lean out. “How long’s that going to take? I feel faint. I need food.”

Nick went to his car, retrieved a bag and handed over a pack. “Gina needs to nibble every other minute. This should tide you over until the stop-over is finished.”

Sweet boy. “Thank you.” She leaned up to kiss his cheek, then cracked open the box full of oat biscuits, sunflower seeds and raisins.

“No worries,
Mina.
Come on
Alien
let’s go.”

“Oi! This is your big head in here!”

Massimo slipped into the car. “We will be fifteen minutes at the most.” They sped away, Massimo tuning into a radio station still playing choral music and hymns. “I hope you will be pleased.”

“What have you done?” she asked, chewing on the seeds suspiciously.

“Bella, you must learn to have faith in me. Not everything I do is for the cause of evil. I must use some time pleasing you.”

“You do please me! But you’ve got this look in your eye that means you’re up to no good.”

Massimo burst out laughing, and stroked an absent hand over her knee without taking his eyes from the road. “We are going to have a very blessed life.”

Scolding him for the rest of the journey seemed like a good start to their marriage, until they pulled up outside a huge detached house.

“Where are we?” she asked, halting the lesson on not doing things in an underhand manner because she was not a fan of surprises.

“Sheen.”

Belinda nodded in understanding. “Are we having a look at Nicholas and Georgina’s home?”

“No. I want you to see ours.”

Belinda’s hearing buzzed with static. What did he just say? He elegantly stepped out of the car and opened her door. She started at his hand, held out in front of her. “You said you were not going to live in my home. And I do not wish to be among the debris of Herbert Afriyie. Therefore, this is our neutral ground. Our fresh start. Home.”

She glanced down and saw her hands were shaking. Placing one in his outstretched hand, she allowed him to coax her from the car. The street looked quaint, village-like.

“The swimming centre we both enjoy is just a short distance to the East. Here, Bella, this is the key. You open it.”

Belinda would never properly recall the moment she stepped inside that house. She couldn’t see for tears. Damn the man for making her cry again!

“I have been told I am an excellent decorator, if you do not approve of the style.”

It was glorious. Exposed black painted timbers framed the ceiling. The walls were such a warm vanilla cream, it was like the sun was shining inside. Huge bay windows displayed seats she could imagine Massimo perching on with one of his books. The living room stretched into the kitchen, one she was sure that Gina had approved of before Massimo would even consider purchasing the house.

“Bella,” Massimo said quietly. “You have not said a word. Is it not to your taste?”

“You darling man, it’s absolutely beautiful,” she said thickly, rushing to him and pressing herself tightly to his chest. “I told you no surprises!”

“This is your wedding present. Georgina and Nicholas have found a home three streets to the West. Sofia is still talking to Paul.”

“Your children are a pain in the neck,” she grumbled.

“They are mine when they misbehave—”

“Which is always.”

“And yours when they behave like angels.”

Belinda gave a snort. “I’ll be old by the time that happens.”

He leaned back to catch her gaze. “Did you just refer to yourself as young?”

She gave a shrug. “Maybe.”

“Your blood sugar must be very low,” he said on a laugh. “Come. We can return once we have eaten.”

Belinda touched her mouth to the scar on his neck, then his chin and lingeringly to his mouth. “I do love you.”

His arms tightened about her. “I will pray to God every day that you remain so. After all I have done, to have you love me is nothing less than a miracle.”

He was wrong. Loving him was the easiest thing in the world. That they’d found each other after their respective histories was the miracle. She snuggled against him.

“You should have told me about the house. You know I’ll just ask Paul, get your account number and send you half the asking price. Don’t you?”

She felt his chuckle against her ear. “I look forward to your attempt.”

There was a distinctly different atmosphere for the blessing of Gina and Nick’s marriage at St. Andrew’s church. It was almost sombre, serious, almost too respectful. Gina kept her eyes lowered matching her modest cream silk dress, full length and with full sleeves. Nick wore a suit and tie in the darkest of greys and kept Gina tight against his side.

Belinda didn’t understand why they were so tense. She looked down at the photograph she had taken of them just as they were entering the church. They were both looking over their shoulders at her, Gina’s veil partly covering her face. There was the sense of a child’s first day of school reluctance about them that deepened her frown. Massimo was already inside, greeting people that he knew. He had explained to her that the blessing was more for those who had not been permitted to attend the wedding in Italy, but from the way everyone was dressed, moreover the way they were all looking, it was not anywhere near the joyous occasion it was meant to be.

Paul explained to her, in a low voice, “All these people, the last time we saw them was at our mum’s funeral. They weren’t sincere then and I doubt they’re sincere now.”

Belinda did wonder when Mary Alice had the operation to remove her soul. The woman had to have been mad to put up with this strangeness. People slinking around in designer clothing with eyes narrowed at anyone who walked past. Belinda, decked out in her finest cloth garnered the most attention especially when Massimo caught her hand, tucked it into his elbow and led her to the front pews. “Are you well?”

“I’m uncomfortable! Who are all these people?”

“Associates. Family friends. Interested parties,” he said softly, sitting down next to her.

“And they need to be here for what?”

“It is just the way things have been done,” he answered as Nick and Gina walked together along the aisle and knelt before the bishop. “We rarely come together, it is always best to do so under cover of a legitimate event.”

“What’s happening?” she asked, her heart thumping in her throat.

“I will officially retire,” he turned to smile at her. “You will have to keep me thoroughly occupied.”

Belinda didn’t quite know what to make of all of it. Until she realised he was honouring his promise to her. Stepping out of the ‘moral sewage.’ A glance to Nick and Gina in front of the bishop made her heart stop beating for a long second. It obviously meant that Nick would take over officially. Belinda frowned. That boy better be praying for the strength to protect his wife, or she would take Gina and the baby on the first flight to Ghana.

“He will do me proud,” Massimo said quietly. “He always has done. I trust him completely.”

“So does Georgina,” Belinda replied. “She has to come first, her and the baby.”

Massimo looked at her, his eyes piercing. “Are you doubting him or me?”

She caught his hand tightly. “Neither of you, I’m just worried.”

He lifted her hand to his mouth. “There is no need. I promise you.”

The blessing finished, Nick and Gina made their way out of the church for photographs. Belinda quickly went over to fuss with Gina’s veil.

“What’s the matter?” the girl asked, carefully moving her aunt’s hands away.

“Are you sure about all of this?” Belinda murmured. “Because I can have a house built in Ghana, near some very good schools.”

Gina grinned. “Plan B, eh? I was more keen on the Bahamas, but never mind. We’re right at the start of our marriage, Auntie, and I’d quite like him to be in the hospital when I give birth so I can yell inappropriately at him. I’m fine. Bullet 2 is fine. Nick is more than fine. Stop fussing.”

While Gina had photographs taken with all the female guests outside the church, framed by the arched doorways, she pulled Nick to the side. “You know your father’s retiring today.”

“Yes,
Mina
.” He raised his brows. “What about it?”

“You can’t let that be everything.”

His gaze travelled and she turned her head to see where he was looking. “It’s not. It never will be. Hard lesson learned.” He sent her a grin. “I know you don’t believe me, but I’m ready for this. So don’t kidnap my wife and take her to Ghana. If you don’t want people to die.”

Belinda gave him a disapproving glare. “You’re too clever for your own good.”

“I like to think so. I think Dad wants to introduce you to some people.”

Massimo was holding out a hand to her and she went to his side with surprising obedience. She’d have to berate him about something later. He absolutely could not get used to her doing what he told her. It wasn’t right.

“Belinda, these are some associates I have known for a very long time.” She nodded and shook hands with several different men, as sharply dressed as her boys. “Belinda has agreed to become my wife.”

“Wonderful,” one said with slimy insincerity. “When is the wedding?”

“I’ve already had the big wedding, so it’s going to be quiet, small and abroad,” Belinda snapped.

The men looked to Massimo with shock. “Whatever my fiancée desires. Excuse us, please.”

He pulled her gently away and she could tell he was struggling not to laugh. “It’s not funny,” she seethed. “Horrible men, why do they want to know? So they can come?
Abodom!
”